Public Arts Commission forwards four finalists for Esperanza Park mural funded by state grant

The Cathedral City Public Arts Commission on July 14 voted to forward four finalists for a new mural at Esperanza Park to community review and then to the City Council for contract approval.

Staff reported that the city received a $98,167 California Art in Parks implementation grant to support four activation events at the park and a $50,000 budget line for the mural. The mural will be painted on the back of the restroom building at the park — approximately 300 square feet — and staff said the grant includes funds for community participation supplies.

Ann, the staff liaison, said commissioners had 58 submissions to review and used a yes/maybe/no scoring system to derive average scores. She said the next phase is for the commission to select its top three or four designs and open those to community scoring, including a score sheet for children at Agua Caliente Elementary and online English/Spanish surveys. "We will have that open until, I believe it's August 3rd, because at the next public arts commission meeting on August 11th, I will bring back to you the scores," Ann said.

Commissioner Robinson moved to forward the four top vote‑getters — Marconi Kalindas, Autumn Martino, Matthew Kavanaugh and Jesse Mellinson — as finalists; Commissioner Marks seconded and the motion carried. Staff said the goal is to award the contract in August, have the artist start painting in September at a community event and unveil the completed mural at an October event. Ann also reported the city expects sculptor CJ Wrench to complete a separate park sculpture fabrication and installation by October pending engineering review.

The commission will solicit community input via bilingual materials and outreach at community events; staff noted the timeframe is tight to allow council approval and artist contracting before the September start date.